Transfer printing and transfer pattern therefor



Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL YOHNS, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MFSNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BUTTERIOK PUBLISHING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TRANSFER PRINTING AND TRANSFER PATTERN THEREFOR 1H0 Drawing.

This invention relates to transfer patterns which are used to decorate fabrics such as linen, cotton, silk, woolen cloth, etc., where not only outlines of a design are given (as in embroidery patterns), but ornaments, flowers and the like in solid fields of colors and shades. More particularly this invention relates to those transfer patterns wherein the medium is transferred by means of a temporary solution of it during the transfer, said solution being brought about by the application of moisture or of hot vapors of the liquid which constitutes the solvent for the medium used, in the manner described in my United States Patent #1,552,374 of September 1st, 1925, in which the fabric to be decorated is placed in contact with the transfer pattern and the solvent is applied through the fabric from the back thereof.

My invention involves an actual dyeing of the fabric to which the color is imparted by transfer, and is to be distinguished from processes in which the transfer is effected by fusion of a fusible substance which then holds the color on the fabric by solidifying thereon. The invention is also distinguished from processes in the nature of decalcomania and-from other processes in which a film of varnish or the like is transferred from a paper sheet or other temporary support.

An object of this invention is to provide a transfer pattern, or transfer sheet, from which the medium can be transferred onto a fabric of any texture, fine or coarse, by means of a temporary solution and can be made to completely envelope and penetrate the threads to which the transfer pattern or sheet is applied.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a transfer pattern from which the medium can be transferred onto a fabric by temporary solution without in the least spreading or bleeding into the fibers outside the edges of the design.

Another object is the provision of a transfer pattern from which large fields of color can be transferred onto a fabric in perfect evenness of shade, regardless of the amount of liquid or vapor employed to effect the transfer.

Application filed November 10, 1925. Serial No. 68,232.

Another obi'ect is to provide a transfer sheet bearing arge fields of solid color as an extremely thin film, which can be creased and folded and sold in envelopes of conveniently small size without harmfully affecting the color field transferred to the fabric, as by causing a line or lines to appear therein cortresponding to the creases in the transfer patern.

Another object is the provision of a transfer sheet, which in spite of the thinness of its color deposit will color evenly and thoroughly fine and coarse fabrics alike, and which, if desired, will color both sides of the fabric in one transfer operation.

Another object is the provision of transfer patterns wherein chemicals necessary for the fixation, or the reduction, of the dyestuif used, are not dissolved until during the transfer operation, thereby preventing premature reaction and consequent deterioration of the transfer medium.

Another object is the provision of a transfer pattern that can be printed at great speed from ordinary zinc or wood cuts, on either flat or rotary presses.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description, which will set forth some preferred embodiments thereof.

l-Vhen, in a transfer pattern, the transfer onto a fabric is effected by means of a temporary solution of the medium, there are always two dangers present: first, the danger of the colors bleeding, that is, spreading outside the edges of the design, especially if by accident too much moisture is employed for the transfer; and second, if an insufficient amount of moisture is applied, only the ridges of the threads will receive color, the whole presenting a specky appearance.

Another serious disadvantage of this type of transfer pattern has hitherto manifested itself during their printing. The transfer medium, to remain soluble for the transferring operation, had to be deposited in a rather thick layer on a sheet of as non-absorbant a material as possible, and for these reasons the sheets required a very long time to dry. If, on the other hand, only' a thin film was deposited or the printing was done on to a material which would absorb all the moisture at once, then not enough color would come off in the transfer to give an even solid shade.

By the process described below, all these dangers or disadvantages are completely overcome.

I print, or in any suitable way deposit, on to a sheet of suitable material such as paper, a very thin layer of a transfer medium which for an indefinite time will remain soluble to the specific liquid solvent by the application of which the transfer is intended to be effected. Immediately after printing, or while the deposit is still moist, I dust on to it a material in the form of a fine powder, which said material is intended to perform: firstly, the general function of giving the transfer medium enough body to completely envelope and-penetrate, during the transfer, at least the surface theads of the fabric to be decorated; secondly, the general function of preventing, durin the transfer, the spreading of the colors si eways outside the edges of the design; and furthermore, to perform, in addition to the above named general functions, any one or several of the following specific functions: To act in the transfer (effected by the aplication of the roper solvent) as a vehicle y dissolving an permanently combining on the fibres with the printed colors; to serve as a temporary vehicle, separable from the coloring matters used and removable by rinsing, washing, or in other ways, after the transfer; to act as a fixing agent or mordant for the particular soluble dyes contained in the printing medium, by forming a chemical compound with the same on and in the fibres of the fabric; and to serve'as a reducing agent or solvent aid to the otherwise insoluble dyes employed;

It is to be understood that whatever the nature of the powdered material, thus dusted on, some of it, at least, must be adapted to absorb and contain within its mass the moisture or va or of the given solvent by which the trans er is to be bl. ought about.

It will be evident that a great variety of transfer mediums can be used within the scope of this invention, mediums soluble in water, or in an acid, in alcohol, turpentine, benzine, etc.

To more fully describe and illustrate the invention, several complete formulas are given herewith.

A medium for printing or depositing is made up by dissolving in a quantity of water, to which some acetic acid has been added, the re uisite amount of dyestufi' according to sh e, using basic dyes in this instance; to this some glycerine is added and at option some neutral gum, like boiled dextrine, until the whole has the right consistency for the printin process. A basic dye, in order to be fixe by the subsequent a plication of a metal salt solution, must first e compounded with tannic acid. 4 For light shades the tannic acid may be dissolved in acetic acid and added right to the printing medium, (as is done in textile printing). I

When printing with such a mixture, as soon as the print leaves the impression form, a neutral gum in powder form is applied to the still moist imprint. The powder may be applied in any-suitable way, as for instance by a continuous blower, with a. fine rotary hair brush subsequently removing the surplus Any soluble gum neutral to the dyestufi employed may be used; for basic dyes powdered gum arabic serves very well; dextrine may also be employed. The apphcation of this powder will, as an incidental convenience, dry the print immediately, so that the sheets can be stacked and folded at once.

But the more im ortant functions of the powder thus applie are: firstly to give the thin dye deposit on the sheet enou h body to completely cover and envelope, uring the transfer, the threads of the fabric to be decorated; secondly, to permit the patterns to be folded without cracking (which could not be done if the gum were added in solution to the medium before print) thirdly, to prevent the spreading or bleeding of the colors sideways beyond the edges of the desi n.

This last mentioned action, which I ound proven by experiment, appears to be as follows: the particles of the powder dusted on to the moist imprint sink more or less into the same and absorb moisture therefrom, but will in general remain intact as individual particles. Then, when the transfer is made, for example by applying steam or hot moisture from the back side of the fabric to be decorated, as described in my United States Patent #1,552,374 above mentioned,

the moisture will first strike these particles and convert them into a more or less plastic or jelly-like mass, and while this is being absorbed by the fibres it will pull the gradually dissolving dye up at right angles, having a greater affinity for the dyestuif than have the plain fibres. By repeating the moistening operation the colors can be drawn all the way through to the back side of the fabric, so that both sides will be colored alike. Subsequently, the fabric is moistened with a solution of an iron or other metal salt which will precipitate the dye onto and in the fibres and the gum can then be removed by rinsing.

For dark shades, instead of mixing or dissolving the tannic acid with the dyestuff, it

is left out of the print color and applied in powder form instead of the gum, but having a tendency to conglomerate in the presence of moisture, it is advisable to mix it with about one fourth part by weight of powdered gum arabic, unless the powdering is done in a dry heated chamber to avoid absorption of moisture.

Many other dyestuffs with their respective fixing agents may be employed, where the chemicals in question'permit of application in powder form, as described. For instance, a vat dye, which is soluble only in the presence of its reducing agent, may be prmted on to a pattern sheet and the reducing agent in powder form applied to the moist print. In this case, during the transfer, the reducing agent is dissolved first and while penetrating the fibres it in turn dissolves the dyestufi just long enough to draw it up until the heat of the iron causes a re-oxidation.

The formulas given so far are for transfer mediums soluble in water or steam. The following formula is used in connection with alcohol as the solvent by which the transfer is brought about: A suitable dye is dissolved in alcohol together with just enough gum shellac to enable the printing of a thin but consistent film; finally powdered shellac is dusted onto the moist print and the transfer is effected by moistenlng the cloth with alcohol instead of with water. In place of shellac, gum mastic can be used or any other gum soluble in'alcohol.

In another formula, an oil-soluble dye, or any other suitable coloring matter, can be incorporated in an oil-soluble compound, like a resin and beeswax dissolved in turpentine, and powdered rosin dusted onto the moist print; the transfer in this case is effected bythe hot vapors of either turpentine or benzine.

Still another formula could be made use of within the scope of this invention, namely: the dyestufi, the mordant or fixing agent, and the gum or resin which is to serve as the temporary or permanent vehicle, could all be mixed together and ground dry to a fine powder, which said powder is then dusted onto the moist imprint done with a colorless ink of a nature best suited to the other ingredients used.

Furthermore, I claim that it is within the scope of this invention if, instead of depositing the transfer medium on one side only, the supporting material of a fibrous or porous nature is immersed in, or saturated with, the transfer medium and then the suitable powdered substance dusted onto both sides, or else only one side is dusted and the other side finished with a backing of wax paper or any other way; this method being especially suitable when making transfer sheets for cutout designs.

As mentioned before, a great many combinations of mediums, powders and solvents may be employed within therspirit of this invention, which resides chiefly in the provision of means whereby those places in the fabric that are .to receive color are made to possess, for the period of the transfer, a greater afiinity for the transfer medium in vsolution, than the spaces intended to remain blank; and I want it to be understood that my invention is not bound to the particular formulas given herein, some of them being merely suggestions for possible application of this invention. Also it is to e under stood that a single formula may not be limited to a single specific solvent; for instance,

if the medium is soluble in alcohol and turv pentine and the dusted on powder is gelatinized or dissolved by either, then the printing may be done with a turpentine solution and the transfer effected by the moisture of alcohol, or vice versa.

WVhat I claim is: Y

1. In a process of transfer printing, the steps comprising depositing soluble dye on a supporting sheet, dusting in powdered form on to the moist deposit a soluble vehi-,

dye, and dyeing a fabric by transferring the deposit on to the fabric while in contact therewith by means of a solvent applied through the fabric.

.3. In a process of transfer printing, the steps comprising depositing soluble dyestuff on a supporting sheet, dusting on to the moist deposit soluble material in powdered form capable of preventing bleeding of the dye-,

stuff, at least part of said material being adapted to act as a fixing agent or mordant for the dyestuff, and transferring the deposit on to a fabric.

4. In a process of transfer printing, the steps comprising depositing soluble dyestuff on a supporting sheet, dusting on to the moist deposit soluble material in powdered form capable of preventing bleeding of the dye stuff, at least part of said material being adapted to act as a fixing agent or mordant for the dyestuif, and transferring the deposit on to a fabric in contact therewith by means of a solvent applied through the fabric.

5. In a process of transfer printing, the steps comprising depositing soluble'fdyestulf on a supporting sheet, dusting on to the moist deposit a soluble material in powdered form capable of preventing bleeding of the dyestufi', at least part of said material being ada ted to act as a fixing agent for the dyestu and transferring the deposit on to a fabric by means of heat, pressure, and hot vapor.

6. A transfer pattern which has thereon a dye imprint embodied in a soluble medium and a coating on said imprint of soluble material in powder form, applied while the imprint is moist, said material being adapted to serve as a vehicle during the transfer of the dye and prevent bleeding thereof.

7. A transfer pattern which has thereon an imprint of a soluble dye, a coating of soluble material in powdered form, applied while the imprint is moist, at least part of said material being adapted to serve as a temporary vehicle for the dye during the transfer thereof and to be later separated from the fabric to which the dye is transferred.

8. A transfer pattern which has an imprint of soluble dye thereon and a coating of powder applied while the imprint is moist, I said coating including a substancein powder form which is adapted to dissolve during the transfer process and to form a chemical compound with the dyestufi while penetrating the fibers of the fabric to be decorated, and act as a mordant or fixing agent for thedyes.

v 9. A transfer pattern having a deposit containing soluble basic dye and a coating of powdered tannic acid.

' 10. A transfer pattern having a. deposit containing soluble basic dye and a coating of a mixture of tannic acid and a. soluble gum in powdered form.

11. A transfer pattern having thereon an imprint of a soluble transfer medium containing a dye, a coating of soluble bleedingpreventing material in powdered form applied while the im rint is moist, at least part of said material eing adapted to dissolve during the transfer and to act as a vehicle when a suitable solvent is applied to effect the transfer.

12. A transfer pattern having thereon an imprint of a soluble medium containing a dye, a coating containing a soluble substance in powdered form applied while the imprint is moist, to act as a bleeding-preventive and as a temporary vehicle for the medium during transfer by the application of a suitable solvent.

13. A transfer pattern having an imprint of a soluble dye medium thereon and a coating on said imprint of powdered material to act as a bleeding-preventive, and as a vehicle for the dye, and as a mordant or fixing agent therefor.

14. A transfer pattern for dyeing fabric by transfer, comprising a sheet having an imprint of a soluble medium containing basic dye, and a coating of a neutral gum and a substance adapted to serve as afixing agent or mordant for the dye, said coating comprising discrete particles more or less embedded in the said imprint, said coating serving as a vehicle for the dye and also serving to prevent bleeding and to permit folding and creasing of the transfer pattern without causing the crease to impair the color field on the fabric when the imprint is transferred thereto. I

15. A transfer pattern for dyeing fabric by transfer, comprising a sheet having an imprint containing soluble dye, and a coatingin the form of particles more or less emthe fabric when theimprint is transferred thereto.

16. A transfer pattern having a deposit containing a soluble dye and a fixing agent for the dye, to'fix the latter chemically when a solvent is applied to effect the transfer.

c 17. transfer sheet comprising a base havng prlnted thereon, a design in water-soluble ink, and acoating of mucilaginous powder gdhgrmg to the design and partially absorbed 18 A transfer sheet comprising a base, bearing an ink design, said design being covered with a mucilaginous powder which has partially absorbed the ink.

19. A transfer sheet comprising a sheet of paper having thereon a design or marking printed with a dyest'utl in solution, and dust ed with a powdered mucilaginous gum.

20. A transfer sheet comprising a base having a designv thereon formed of dyestufi' in glycerine solution, said design being covered with a mucilaginous powder, partially absorbed by the ink in the design and in suiiicient quantity to render the design adhesive when wet.

PAUL YOHN S. 

